Improvement in drains for gas-mains



l. NADEB. Drain for Gas-Mains.

Patented-Se'ptf21, 1875.

FIGI

FIG Il 7[(1lIlllllillllllll/lllllll/A `VENTOR JOHN NADER, oF MADISON, yWIsooNsiN.

lMPRovEMENT In DRAlNs FoR QAS-MAINs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,854, dated September 21, 1875; application filed February 26, 1875. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN NADER, ot' Madison, in the county of Dane and State Io'f Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas-Drain; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specication.

The invention herein consists of an automatic sealing device for drawing water from gas-mains, and to avoid the necessityot' employing a pump for the purpose, and at the same time prevent the escape of gas. A drain-pipe is connected with the main and with an overliow-pipe by an intermediate chamber, within which an automatically-operating iioat-valve is arranged, the elevation of which by the accumulation of water within the chamber from the main will open a valve and the discharge will be through the overflow-pipe into an adjacent drain, sewer, or other arrangement. The drain is arranged to operate for any pressure from the" minimum to the maximum-say from three to six inches. The water under a minimum gas-pressure will be even with the bottom ot' the main, while at the same time any further accumulation will be discharged automatically and maintain the sealed condition of the main. Should the pressure of the gas be increased in the main'the water will be forced down the drain-pipe until the column from the surface to the overtlow of the discharge-pipe shall be in equilibrium with the gas-pressure. Should the maximum pressure be increased, then the oat and valve would drop'to close the valve, and a spasmodic iilling and discharging would take place, which would not be objectionable. Should at any time the supply be so great as to surcharge the discharge-pipe, the same would act as a siphon, and drain the chamber sufficiently to allow the iioat to drop. The valve would then close and prevent the escape of the gas. The same result would happen in case of evaporation, since the iioat, although constructed with suflicient displacement to rise with less than minimum pressure on the accumulation of water in the chamber, yet its weight is considerably in excess ofthe maximum pressure, thereby securing the escape of gas. Ihave also combined with the gas-main and the automatic drain an equilibrium-pipe andV air-valve to allow the gas to escape from the iioat-chamber as the water lrises therein, the action whereof will be that as soon as the iloat raises the main valve the back pressure from the gas-main will close the equilibrium-pipe valve.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section, showing the automatic drain applied to the gas-main, and with the overow-pipe open for the discharge of the water; and Fig. 2, a similar section, showing the drain float-valve closed with the overflow-pipe.

The drain consists of a small pipe, a, connecting with the gas-main A, a water-tight chamber, b, and a metallic float, c, which carries at its upper end la valve, d, arranged to open and close by a valve-seat, c', at the junction ofthe overflow-pipe with the iloat-chamber, the communication of the said chamber with the overiiow-pipe e leading to the sewer or discharge place. The float is shown with a central opening, j', through which the water .discharges when the valve is'open. The minimum pressure ofthe gas is indicated by the dotted line g, and the maximum pressure by the dotted line h, so that it is obvious as the water accumulates in the iioat-chamber the oat is raised thereby, and opening the valve the water is forced out into the discharge-pipe.

The construction ofthe device maybe varied. The float-chamber may be square or cylindrical, and may be placed at the bottom 0f the main with the valve in the bottom or discharge from the side.

The automatic device will thoroughly and reliably drain the water from gas-mains, and effect a saving ot' the labor of pump-men, and be more reliable. It can be constructed at a mere nominal cost, of any suitable metal, so as to require few, it" any, repairs for a number of years. It can be applied as easily as service-pipe. The valve, properly constructed, will always preserve its seat in perfect sealing condition, and the escape of gas in the absence of water will be almost impossible, while with the water-seal it will be entirely gas-tight.

An equilibrium device is employed with the automatic drain. As shown, this device consists` of a pipe, i, which unites the gas-main with the top of the iloa-t, and at a suitable point within this pipe a wafer or other suitable valves, j, is arranged to allow the gas to escape from the floatchamber as the water rises therein, when, as soon as the float raises the main valve, the back pressure will close the valve j, and thereby insure the perfect working ofthe drain.

The connecting and equilibrium pipes may he made of any desirable length, so as to place -the whole device beyond the influence of frost in cold climates, and provided with suitable couplings for convenience of attachment and construction.

1. The combination, with the gas-main A, of the automatic drain, consisting of the connecting-pipe a, float-chamber b, valved float c d, and overflow-pipe` e, operating as herein JOHN NADER.

Witnesses:v

WM. J. KAYSER, THEoDoR KAYsER. 

